Job hunting skills

tips for work search Wherever possible, we would like to help you improve your financial situation; one way is to offer a few tips on how to get back into work if you are not currently working.

Here, you'll find information about getting your CV right, how to apply for jobs, what to write in a covering letter and how to 'sell yourself' at interview.

Training

If you want to find out about any local training opportunities please go to our Training pages or contact Involvement on 0300 100 1010.

Your CV

This is a fantastic comprehensive pack from Digital Champions Network for Housing created for them by Next Step  CV writing pack   and we can't recommend it to you too highly. Please have a look and follow their easy to follow guides.

This is a handy CV template which you can download and edit yourselves. On the end of it is a link to the organisation FullerCV which kindly provided it who also offer free CV reviews once you are ready.

Here are some handy tips on preparing your CV and writing covering letters to best showcase your skills and experience. Click on one of the links below to learn more:

Job hunting

So, you’ve put together a CV which showcases your skills, experience and ability and drafted a good covering letter. What next?

You’ve probably been on some of the many job websites and perhaps used a recruitment agency... but you are best off signing up to some of the many daily email and/or text updates. Jobs don’t generally come looking for you, finding the job you want will require your time and energy!

Application Forms

Although you have submitted your CV, you will probably need to complete a company's own application form.  Your application form will determine whether or not you will make it to the interview stage of the recruitment process. So it is extremely important to ensure that you get it right.  A step-by-step guide on how to complete an application form is available at National Careers Service .

The following websites also offer advice on application form completion:

Online recruitment

Many employers now only advertise their vacancies on websites and expect you to apply online.

The biggest and most widely recognised online recruitment websites list thousands of jobs covering all types of vacancies so as to improve the speed by which candidates can be matched with live vacancies. Each allow you to search by job, area and industry and, if you register, to receive regular emails detailing jobs that are applicable to you. Specialist Job Boards advertise vacancies in particular industries.

The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential and impartial advice, supported by qualified careers advisers.

It gives useful advice on the way to go about planning your job-hunting at this link.

There is also an online questionnaire that you can complete to help you understand the types of work that would be best suited to you at this link. This is well worth doing.